Tennessee Agricultural Extension Service May 1914- June1989
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Personnel Directory Tennessee Agricultural Extension Service May 1914- June1989 1llEUNIVERSITY OPTENNESSBE, USDA, 'lllNNESSBESTAlE UNIVERSITY, ANDCOUNTY GOVERNMENTS COOPERATING FOREWORD On May 8, 1989, the Extension System celebrated the 75th Anniversary of the signing of the Smith-Lever Act by President Woodrow Wilson. That act, passed by the United States Congress in 1914, established the Cooperative Extension System, a uniquely American institution. The Smith-Lever Act has been amended frequently and was rewritten In 1953. However, its statement of the basic purpose of Cooperative Extension remains the same: "To aid in diffusing among the people of the United States useful and practical information on subjects related to agriculture and home economics, and to encourage the application of the same.· On July 1, 1914, the College of Agriculture of the University of Tennessee and the USDA, cooperating under the provisions of the Smith-Lever Act, organized a Division of Extension, now known as the Agricultural Extension Service. The reason for Extension's existence today is the same as it has been for 75 years -- to deliver effective educational programs to serve the needs of our clientele. Our programs are dynamic. Our clientele or the people in our audience are a passing parade, and our subject matter changes with new research and with the needs of our clientele. In addition, the Extension team members change through professional growth and with departures from and additions to the team. After 75 years of serving the Tennessee public, the Agricultural Extension Service has become an essential resource for Tennesseans in solving problems and developing leadership and life skills related to youth, family, community, agriculture and natural resources. This role will continue. The tools of the trade will change. The research-based information will change. The priority of problems to be solved will change. But. Extension will be needed. To cope with and adjust to the needs of tomorrow, we must keep our mission clearly in mind, have confidence in ourselves, know our subject matter, and continue to add to our knowledge. Extension will not survive on the basis of memories in the hearts and minds of the farmers and their families of this country who have benefited from Extension programs over the past 75 years. Tomorrow, as today, Extension programs live and breathe in the lives of those people who are currently improving the way they live and make a living as a result of Extension education. For tomorrow, as for the past 75 years, education is the mission, but it is never completed. Our people -- both young and older -- and those of future generations need us and the great Institutions we serve. The Tennessee Agricultural Extension Service has an enviable record of success, and we are recognizing that with our 75th Annlversay Celebration. Thomas Jefferson put the past in perspective when he wrote, ·1 like the dreams of the future better than the history of the past." �Mwnen August, 1989 Dean, Agricultural Extension Service DEDICATED to the Deans and Directors of the Tennessee Agricultural Extension Service who have served with vision, courage, pride and distinction throughout the 75-year history of the organization. PROFILES OF LEADERSHIP DR. CHARLES ALBERT KEFFER was a natural choice for the first director of the Tennessee Agricultural Extension Service. As a noted authority on horticulture and landscape design. he came to the University of Tennessee in 1900 as head of the horticulture department. From an organization of less than 40 employees in 1914, Dr. Keffer saw his staff grow to almost 500. including officials. specialists and county agricultural agents in all 95 counties. home agents In 70 counties and 4-H Club agents in 62 counties. He passed away on December 30. 1935. As a lasting tribute to his contributions to the rural people of Tennessee, the 4-H Club boys and girls chose his name for the battleship launched under their sponsorship in June 1944. DR. C. E. BREHM. who had served as assistant director for 15 years. became the second director following the death of Dr. Keffer. Dr. Brehm joined the Extension Service in 1917 as a marketing specialist. His first work was the formation of cooperative wool marketing pools. which still function successfully in the state. Through his training and great understanding of farm and home problems. and his well known organizational skills. he was popular throughout the South. He served from 1936 until his appointment as President of the University of Tennessee in 1948. DR. J. H. McLEOD became director of the Extension Service in 1947 and served for 10 years. He joined the staff in 1921 as a swine specialist. His outstanding work in two-litter development and later as coordinator of the AAA corn-hog program is legendary. He was largely responsible for setting up the cooperative Extension-NA Test Demonstration Program in the 1930s. His work in agricultural economics and program planning gained wide recognition. Because of his long association with Extension work and his broad knowledge of agricultural conditions, he rendered a wide service to the farm people of Tennessee. DR. VERNON W. DARTER succeeded Dr. McLeod as the director of Extension in 1957. He had previously served as a county agent. and professor and leader of the Extension Training and Studies department which he organized at UT. In June 1968. his title was changed to Dean of Agricultural Extension. Under his leadership, professional competency of personnel was greatly improved. Nearly half of the county agents acquired advanced college degrees and more than half of the state specialists held Ph.Ds. The administrative staff was reorganized under his direction. with more emphasis placed on educational programs in agriculture. home economics and youth at the county level. Dr. Darter retired in June 1972. DR. WILLIAM D. BISHOP was named dean of Extension in 1972. He had received a Master's Degree from the University of Tennessee in 1954 and was appointed associate agronomist. After earning the Ph. D. from Purdue University, he was promoted to head of the agronomy department. Two years later he was named state leader of Extension agricultural programs. Under Dr. Bishop's leadership the Extension Service continued to grow, especially through widespread development of soil testing and Increased activity in 4-H Club programs. He retired in March 1977. DR. M. LLOYD DOWNEN is the present dean of the Tennessee Agricultural Extension Service. He assumed his duties In 1977 after having served as professor and leader of the Extension agricultural economics department. and as assistant dean for five years Immediately prior to his present position. He Is recognized nationally for his administrative skills. Consequently, he has served on many advisory boards and councils, including the National Extension Committee on Organization and Policy (ECOP) and the National 4-H Council Board of Trustees. He was selected by his peers to chair the Southern Directors Association. He has emphasized balanced programming among the Agriculture, Home Economics, 4-H and Community Resource Development components. During his administration, Dr. Downen has led Tennessee's 4-H Club program to an unprecedented l O years with more national project winners than any other state in the nation. Under his leadership, the Agricultural Extension Service programs are helping farmers and farm families in Tennessee meet the social and economic crisis which they face in a changing agricultural economy. As dean, Dr. Downen has seen the Extension Service come to a crossroads in a changing agricultural environment, both in Tennessee and in the nation. He Is now addressing the issues that will face our society not only today, but long into the 21st century. THROUGH THE DECADES On May 8, 1914, President Woodrow Wilson signed the Smith-Lever Act which legally established the Extension Service as the educational branch of the United States Department of Agriculture. The Extension Service of today continues to be a unique nationwide system, guided and funded by a partnership of Federal, State and County governments. It is an organization with a proud past and a promising future. 1910's THE POVERTY YEARS * Poverty takes hold in rural America. * Girls' tomato clubs and boys· corn clubs meet for the first time. * Extension hires its first Home Economics Specialists. * World War I begins (1917). * Extension works to improve food production and food preservation. * America's new slogan is, "Food Will Win the War." * Agents teach canning, butter making, bread baking and poultry care. * Agents organize clubs to reach many more families with educational information. 1920's THE PRE-DEPRESSION YEARS * Farm prices crash, causing economic problems for farmers. * The Division of Extension changes its name to the Agricultural Extension Service. * Farmers realize that prosperity will depend on the use of modern farming methods. * The first 4-H Club camps open their doors to American youth. 1930's THE LEAN YEARS * Economic depression sweeps the nation. * Extension formulates relief programs to counteract rapidly falling prices. * Agents teach home and money management. * The cotton market slumps during a high-yield year. Agents respond by teaching families how to use surplus cotton to make mattresses. * Extension agents conduct a massive meat canning program which makes use of surplus meat and saves grain. * Farmers diversify and grow strawberries. tobacco and capons for special markets. * Farmers begin to use new phosphate fertilizers. developed by the Tennessee Valley Authority. * Thousands of Tennessee farm families wire their homes for electricity. 1940's WORLD WAR II * Extension organizes a system of neighborhood leaders who deliver urgent war information to farm families. * Neighborhood leaders inform rural families of the nation's need for products and resources such as: scrap rubber. iron, enriched flour and increased war bond sales. * Extension organizes groups to discuss critical issues.